Rating of
2.5/4
Athletic Heroics
Unknown - wrote on 05/10/16
'Race' is the long overdue biopic of Olympic Gold Medalist, Jesse Owens. We catch a glimpse of his early days before getting right into his running career, starting out in college. He forms a bond with his coach/mentor (an immaculate Sudeikis) that turns out to be the heart of the film. I really enjoyed their scenes together. Their friendship offered depth without becoming weighed down with too much emphasis on emotional drama. They share highlight reels with the well executed running sequences. The way in which they are shot and edited made these moments of well known victory still give off a competitive tensity. There's also a surprising amount of focus on the politics involved with actually having Owens participate in this particular Olympics being held during WWII. Many scenes are devoted to Games officials contemplating the matter of tensions between countries, while also making secret deals with foreign officials. All the matters at play do feed into the main themes of triumph through diversity, shining a brighter light on Owen's accomplishments. This does, however, start to bog down the viewing experience a tad when you factor in all of the time needed to setup this other side to the events. The period setting felt too much like a glossy Hollywood rendition of the 1930's, at certain times, and Owens' character isn't explored as much as I'd hoped. James gives a good performance, but the film focuses more on showcasing his accomplishments rather than insight into the man himself.
